Dubai & Al Ain (Abu Dhabi) 19/6/16 – 30/6/16

Our flight from the Maldives was delayed by 12 hours – thank you Emirates, however they did inform us 3 days ago so we were able to get a late check out and spend another day in paradise.
Once landed in Dubai we got to our hotel by taxi it was now 4am local time and we had been on the go for 20 hours. We’re staying at the Amwaj suites on Jumeirah Beach on the waters edge, a great place as they had upgraded us to a 2 bedroomed apartment with a sea view – lovely.
After a few hours sleep, we went out to the supermarket and got necessities. Then got a taxi to the Marina Mall. Great to see all the great UK shops, Boots the chemist, River Island, Monsoon, Waitrose to name a few. As per normal shopping makes you hungry and thirsty, but we have come to Dubai in the middle of Ramadan, meaning we found it difficult to find a cafe or restaurant open. Each one had signs on their closed doors stating opening times from 7pm, (after sun set -iftar), but in the mall we managed to locate a few cafes open on the top floor. There were huge barricades at their doorway stating only non Muslims could eat, which would explain why the mall was empty. Shopping done and a taxi return we were shattered so had a nap. 4 hours later when we awoke, we watched the sun set off our balcony – lovely, it’s 37’ and it’s 5pm.
Our first dip in the sea – wowsers it’s a hot one today and the ocean is like bath water very warm indeed (32.5) and not a lot of people around its great.
We booked onto the desert safari today and were picked up by our driver in a great 4×4. Inside were 2 other couples from the UK. We all got on like a “house on fire”. We drove for around 30 minutes through Dubai and into the neighbouring Emirate as our driver informed us each Emirate has different coloured sand ranging from white fine sand through orange and red sand and in some places black sand. We stopped for a toilet break then onto the dunes themselves. This ride was as good as any fast Rollercoaster, twisting this way then that way, racing up, down and around the tallest sand dunes. We were thrown all over the place and it was difficult at times to hold onto the “roll bars” inside the 4×4. Great fun which lasted 30 minutes or so. At one point one of the others stated she was going to be sick! She was sat next to Tina, and Tina in her non nursing way stated, “don’t look in my direction”. The car came to a holt and out she got, leaving her mark in the sand. She then got back in and we continued, again raging through the sand at great speed until we got to a peak of a dune where the car came to a stop. We got out and witnessed the most amazing sun set I’ve ever seen. We were in the middle of nowhere surrounded by sand dunes watching the sun turn from a bright yellow to an amazing burnt orange colour – fabulous. We all got back into the car and were driven to an oasis in the desert. Where we came across several large tents with the sides rolled up. In the centre of the site was a grand stage with tables set up all around and attached to each table were cushions scattered all around. On top of each table were many brass lanterns and as the darkness fell they each lit up and glowed many colours, a very romantic setting. As its Ramadan there were no alcohol served nor any traditional belly dancers. Instead we were served ongoing fizzy drinks and water, and instead of a belly dancer we watched a man completing a traditional dance where he swirled around for what seemed like 20 minutes or so. At one state his costume lit up illuminating the stage in many colours. Also in the site were henna tattoos, Hubby – Bubba pipes, traditional costumes to dress up in and have photos done, a man with falcons, camel rides, buggy and 4 wheel drive rides, all complimentary. We were also served a fantastic BBQ. On the whole a great evening and everyone stated how much they had enjoyed themselves.
The 3 couples in our car were all staying in different hotels, but they were side by side on the beach. Once back one of the couples informed us of a Sky Bar on the 35th floor of the Hilton hotel, (next to our hotel), and what’s more they WERE serving alcohol. We thought our livers had had enough of a break by now so decided to have a look at this bar. One of the other couples also joined us. Mel and her mum (sorry mum have forgot your name) Once on the top floor, the views were amazing, looking right and left we could see the whole of Jumeirah Beach and all its attractions. It was here we found out that Mel has actually starred in Bollywood films, as a backing dancer, she also competed in the closing ceremony at the London Olympics, and has starred in several music videos. What a talented and very confident young lady she was indeed. She was on holiday with her mum, who also was a truly inspirational lady.
On the following days we visited several malls, how great to see shops on the high street of the UK. Gap, the Body Shop, M&S and Boots to name a few sat alongside the rich and famous department stores like Harvey Nice etc.

AL Ain – Abu Dhabi
(T) Some of you will know I adopted Leo & Max from Adam and Gill who were moving here 3 years ago, due to the heat they were not able to keep their boys so I had the absolute pleasure to take them. We got in touch to see about meeting up and the next day we got on the bus for the hour and half trip to Al Ain. Met at the bus station we headed for Sheikh Zayad Palace Museum which is the former home of the late UAE founder Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Beautiful buildings restored to show how the sheikh and his family lived. Then to their fabulous home to chill with a few beers and to meet their pussy cats Fitz and Otto. Fitz has the loudest voice I have ever heard! And can he talk! After a superb meal then we headed to the Al Jahili fort to watch the cannon being fired to signal the end of ramadan for the day. After we went to the Al Ain Rotana hotel for a drink. So great to catch up with them, we had a lovely time, thanks so much you two for your awesome hospitality. I really liked Al Ain, it has no sky scrapers but the city is pretty and green and has a nice relaxed feel.
Downtown Dubai old quarter is very different from the city centre. There are no high rises and overall has a much quieter feel and appearance . We spent the next couple of days on 2 of the Hop on hop off bus tours which were great. Loads of information on the cities history and the famous buildings such as the Burj Kalifa the tallest in the world -we didn’t venture up, the viewing deck at 125 floors up sounds daunting as does the fact the building looks like it narrows rather a bit at the top! We also went to Atlantis on the Palms which is a huge development built in the sea. Atlantis has some of the best aquariums we have ever seen.
(T) Overall Dubai is a gorgeous, clean and colourful city. Where I only knew it from the pictures of the high rises what I didn’t expect were the fabulous cream and sand coloured architecturally impressive buildings surrounding these and it makes for a great sight. Where we stayed in Jumeirah Beach along ‘the walk’ it all looked pretty new and very different from the old quarter we then stayed at. It was a shame we were there during ramadan as restaurants and bars were shut till sunset so I didn’t get a real feel for how the city looks and feels during the day which i’m sure is the place to be.

Here are a few facts about Dubai that you may not know:-
1) Dubai is 1 of 7 Emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates, with Abu Dhabi being its capital
2) The UAE sits at the bottom of the Arabian Gulf
3) It’s currency is the AED (currently 2.5 dirham to the NZ $
4) The word Dubai is believed to have been originated from “Daba” meaning a horde of locusts
5) Dubai has tax free earnings with no VAT/GST on goods
6) Back in 1991 there was only 1 skyscraper namely the Dubai World Trade Centre, now there are over 400 skyscrapers
7) More than 80% of its population are immigrants
8) Dubai has an indoor ski slope which produces 6000 tons if snow every day
9) Over 25% of the world’s cranes are in Dubai
10) The Dubai police car fleet includes a Lamborghini, Ferrari, and a Bentley
11) Currently they are building a 7km indoor theme park
12) Since 1883 the reigning AL Maktoum family have ruled Dubai